Method and apparatus for removing wrinkles from slacks,or the like

ABSTRACT

Structure for attachment to slacks, or other such garments, tending to remove wrinkles and restore creases by exerting forces on the slacks both transverse and parallel to the creases. The transverse force is exerted by attaching the structure to the slacks at the front and rear at points aligned with the creases in the area between the waistband and crotch and maintaining a stretching force. The longitudinal force is provided by suspending the slacks freely from the cuffs with the structure attached, whereby the weight of the structure exerts a longitudinal force along the cuffs. The structure comprises a pair of telescoping rods with spring clips at the remote ends and detent means for maintaining the desired spacing of the clips to exert the transverse stretching force on the slacks.

United States Patent [1 1 Hagen 11 3,790,043 451 Feb. 5, 1974 4] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING WRINKLES FROM SLACKS, on THE LIKE [76] Inventor: Elmer Ray Hagen, 230 W. Genesee St., Auburn, NY. 13031 [22] Filed:- May 19, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 255,106

[52] U.S-. Cl. 223/61, 223/96 [51] Int. Cl. D06c 15/00 [58] Field of Search 38/70, 71, 72, 102, 12, 13, 38/140, 69, 102.91, 144, 102.8; 223/61, 88,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,111,476 9/1914 Locke 223/91 X 633,050 9/1899 Spenard 656,467 8/1900 Miotke 798,547 8/1905 Walsh 361,260 4/1887 Brinton 38/102 3,559,852 2/1971 Green.... 223/96 Primary ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles S. McGuire 57 ABSTRACT Structure for attachment to slacks, or other such garments, tending to remove wrinkles and restore creases by exerting forces on the slacks both transverse and parallel to the creases. The transverse force is exerted by attaching the structure to the slacks at the front and rear at pointsaligned with the creases in the area between the waistband and crotch and maintaining a stretching force. The longitudinal force is provided by suspending the slacks freely from the cuffs with the structure attached, whereby the weight of the structure exerts a longitudinal force along the cuffs. The structure comprises a pair of telescoping rods with spring clips at the remote ends and detentmeans for maintaining the desired spacing of the clips to exert the transverse stretching force on the slacks.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 51974 FIG.

FIG.3

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING WRINKLES FROM SLACKS, OR THE LIKE' BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to methods and apparatus for removing wrinkles and restoring the creases in slacks, or other such garments. More specifically, the invention relates to methods and means for applying stretching forces to a pair of slacks while suspended from the cuffs, thereby tending to remove wrinkles and restore creases while the slacksare stored.

Various forms of garment or fabric stretching devices, as well as means for pressing or otherwise removing wrinkles from garments'such as slacks, are in wide commercial use. In order to avoid frequent ironing or pressing, it is desirable that both mens and womens slacks be stored in such a way as to avoid wrinkling and to preserve creases. This-may include anything from the careful hanging of the slacks on a conventional hooked hanger to the use of devices attached to o placed in contact with the slacks.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a simple and economical, yet effective, method and .means for tending to remove wrinkles and re-v storing creases to slacks, and the like, during temporary storage thereof.

An additional object is to provide a method for re-' moving wrinkles from slacks as they are suspended freely from the cuffs, as wellas economical structure for expediently practicing such method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Slacks are placed with the legs together and creases along the front and rear edges, and hung upside down by appropriate means engaging the cuffs. A stretching force is then applied by structure attached to the slacks in an area between the waistband and crotch. The preferred form of the structure comprises a pair of telescoping rods having spring clips on the remote ends. The clips are arranged to engage the front and rear of the slacks, at points aligned with the creases, between an edge of the clip and the respective rod with which it is associated. The rods are extended, after the clips are engaged with the slacks, to exert a stretching force from front to rear, i.e., transverse to the creases and aligned therewith. The weight of the structure exerts a stretching force along the creases between the points of engagement of the cuffs and the structure exerting the Stretching forces. Detent means hold the rods in the extended position until released.

FIGURE DESCRIPTIONS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a'pair of slacks with the structure of the present invention attached, showing the manner of operation thereof;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing, in FIG. 1 is shown a pair of slacks having cuffs 12, front and rear creases l4 and 16, respectively, waistband 18, and pockets 20. Slacks 10 are placed with the legs together and creases 14 and 16 along the front and rear edges, as shown, and hung upside down, being engaged at the cuffs 12 by spring clips 22 and 24. The clips are arranged on hanger 26 so that the slacks may hang freely from the points of engagement of the cuffs.

Structure 28, shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, is attached to slacks 10 at points aligned with creases l4 and 16, and in an area between waistband 18 and the crotch of the slacks. Preferably, structure 28 is attached to extend laterally across slacks 10 just below (or above, as the slacks appear upside down) the bottom of front pocket 20, i.e., a few inches below waistband 18.

Structure 28 includes a pair of telescopically engaged rods 30 and 32, rod 30 being hollow and rod 32 freely slidable therein. Spring clips 34 and 36 are pivotally mounted on the remote ends of rods 30 and 32, respectively, and biased toward engagement of an edge thereof with an opposing'surface of the rod on which the clip is mounted. Inv the preferred embodiment, rods 30 and 32 are of rectangular cross section, relatively thin, with the graspingedges of clips 34 and 36 engaging one of the wider'surfaces. One of the narrow edge surfaces of rod 32 is provided with serrations or teeth detent means engaged. Member 40 may be manually I engaged and rotated against the spring bias to release the detent, when it is desired to move rod 32 into rod The invention is practiced by suspending slacks 10 freely from the cuffs, in the manner indicated, attaching spring clips 34 and 36 to front and rear'portions of the slacks in line with the creases, and extending rod 32 outwardly until the desired l teral stretching force is exerted on the slacks. If desired, the edges of clips 34 and 36 and the opposing surfaces of rods 30 and 32 between which the slacks are engaged may be roughened or serrated to prevent slippage. The weight of structure 28 exerts a longitudinal stretching force on slacks 10 between the engagement at the cuffs'and at'structure 28. The weight need not be excessive, structure weighing on the order of one or two pounds being sufficient to remove wrinkles and restore creases to slacks hung in the manner indicated for a few hours, e.g., overnight.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited-thereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claim for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of removing wrinkles from slacks, or the like, comprising:

a. suspending the slacks to hang freely from an attachment at the cuffs with the legs together and the creases along the edges;

b. attaching to theoutside of the slacks, only in the area between the waistband and, the crotch, structure including a pair of telescoping members hav- 4 d. allowing the slacks to remain in the suspended condition with saidstructure attached for an appreciable time, whereby the weight of said structure exerts a longitudinal force tending to remove wrinkles and restore the creases in the slacks. 

1. A method of removing wrinkles from slacks, or the like, comprising: a. suspending the slacks to hang freely from an attachment at the cuffs with the legs together and the creases along the edges; b. attaching to the outside of the slacks, only in the area between the waistband and the crotch, structure including a pair of telescoping members having spring clips at the remote ends by attaching the clips at points on the front and rear of the slcaks longitudinally aligned with the creases; c. extending the telescoping members to increase the distance between the spring clips, thereby exerting a stretching force in a direction transverse to the creases; and d. allowing the slacks to remain in the suspended condition with said structure attached for an appreciable time, whereby the weight of said structure exerts a longitudinal force tending to remove wrinkles and restore the creases in the slacks. 